I currently have psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, and post traumatic stress disorder. I need help in finding a lawyer to help me get my va disability benefits started. Does anyone know where I can find one?

Call your local Bar Association and ask for a recommendation. Your local VA office also has a list of Attorneys who accept - and are skilled at - these cases.

You need to file the first application for disability yourself. When your claim has been denied then you are allowed to have an attorney step in and take over your case to get your benefits for you. The attorney will not charge a fee to you for taking your case but will take his fee from the lump sum benefits you will receive once your case is approved. The first 6 months of your case is not paid any back benefits. Keep this in mind when filing. Also, it can take years for you to be approved for benefits.

If you do contact an attorney prior to filing, he will advise you he cannot step in until you have been denied. At least 95% of first time filers for benefits are denied.

Good advice, Twinkie, and according to Law - but in my area Attorneys assist in filling out the initial application in order to sort of beat the odds with a retainer stating if the application is denied, then they will represent the Veteran. I think it's sidestepping the intent of the Law but it's what they are doing.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Call your local Bar Association and ask for a recommendation. Your local VA office also has a list of Attorneys who accept - and are skilled at - these cases.

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How do I contact the local bar association?

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Originally Posted by twinkiedooter

You need to file the first application for disability yourself. When your claim has been denied then you are allowed to have an attorney step in and take over your case to get your benefits for you. The attorney will not charge a fee to you for taking your case but will take his fee from the lump sum benefits you will receive once your case is approved. The first 6 months of your case is not paid any back benefits. Keep this in mind when filing. Also, it can take years for you to be approved for benefits.

If you do contact an attorney prior to filing, he will advise you he cannot step in until you have been denied. At least 95% of first time filers for benefits are denied.

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I have already been denied and I have been trying to get disability benefits for almost 4 years now. I just don't know where to go to get a lawyer.

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Originally Posted by jmbrown3

I have already been denied and I have been trying to get disability benefits for almost 4 years now. I just don't know where to go to get a lawyer.

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Do what I suggested - look up the number of your local Bar Association or VA office and call them.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Good advice, Twinkie, and according to Law - but in my area Attorneys assist in filling out the initial application in order to sort of beat the odds with a retainer stating if the application is denied, then they will represent the Veteran. I think it's sidestepping the intent of the Law but it's what they are doing.

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I have been trying to contact attorneys in the phone book, but so far all of them have said that they only do Social Security.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Do what I suggested - look up the number of your local Bar Association or VA office and call them.

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How do you contact the local bar association?

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Originally Posted by jmbrown3

I just asked you where I should go to look for it.

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The phone book.

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Originally Posted by this8384

The phone book.

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I already tried the phone book. I looked under disability lawyers, but all of those lawyers said that they only did Social Security. Is there somewhere else in the phone book that I am supposed to be looking?

You contact your state bar association
I would give you a link but you did not say what state,
But you do a simple goggle web search for ** your state** bar association. Call them, they can give you a local chapter or one may be listed on their web site.

Call the VA, there should be a list of local approved attorneys

Are you a member of the American Legion or the VFW, if so contact your local or state service officer they will have a service officer that works within the VA to help you also.

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Originally Posted by jmbrown3

I already tried the phone book. I looked under disability lawyers, but all of those lawyers said that they only did Social Security. Is there somewhere else in the phone book that I am supposed to be looking?

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You call your local BAR ASSOCIATION; you call your closest VA OFFICE. You do NOT look under disability Attorneys.

Remember? "Do what I suggested - look up the number of your local Bar Association or VA office and call them."